Gilas Youth players participate in Basketball Without Borders camp

Gilas Pilipinas youth players (from L-R) Joaquin Ludovice, Sophia Canindo, Ariel De La O, and Ava Fajardo during the Basketball Without Borders 2024 Asia camp in Australia. –BWB Asia/NBA Philippines

Four Gilas Pilipinas youth players showcased their wares in the recently concluded Basketball Without Borders 2024 Asia camp in Perth, Australia.

Sophia Canindo, Ariel De La O, and Ava Fajardo of Gilas Girls and Joaquin Ludovice of the Gilas Boys’ team were among the 60 players from more than 15 counties from across Asia-Pacific who got hands-on training from NBA, WNBA and FIBA players and coaches at the camp.

The Philippine representatives went through a series of on-court drills and participated in Q&A sessions with noted players, which included 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, who made a surprise visit to the camp, and four-time WNBA champion Cynthia Cooper.

READ: Two Filipino players named All-Stars at Basketball Without Borders Asia camp

Canindo, De La O, Fajardo, and Ludovice also played in 5-on-5 exhibition matches. They were assigned to teams named after NBA and WNBA teams.

Congratulations to Ava Fajardo, Sophia Canindo, Ariel de la O and Joaquin Ludovice of Batang Gilas for being chosen to participate in the NBA Basketball Without Borders being held at Warwick Stadium in Perth, Australia. 🏀

📸: @basketballwithoutborders pic.twitter.com/e9SIxYRD2n

— SBP (@officialSBPinc) September 21, 2024

In a story on NBA Philippines, the Gilas Girls players said that being exposed to different styles of play was one of her biggest takeaways from the Basketball Without Borders camp.

“So I think that playing with some different girls from different countries is a big experience because I can learn their type of basketball. I just adjusted myself to how they play and now I can help them with the way I play too,” said Canindo.

“Seeing different countries, there’s 19 different countries here playing, it very much translates from the Philippines as everybody here is fast. Everybody has handles. Everybody can shoot and so, it’s just an amazing experience,” said De La O.

READ: Five Filipino players invited to Basketball Without Borders Asia camp

The Philippines has been well represented in the Basketball Without Borders camps in the continent through the years with Gilas standouts getting invites to the camp. Recently, Gilas Youth standout Andy Gemao also joined the NBA BWB Global camp in Indiana.

The annual basketball camp is a joint project of the NBA and Fiba. This year’s event in Australia was backed by the NBL and  supported by Basketball Australia.